The State House Anti-Corruption Unit working with the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director Public Prosecutions have today arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Division Court six Ntungamo district officials including the District Education Officer, a Municipal Education Officer and Five Head Teachers on charges of Causing Financial Loss and Abuse of Office.
The officials are; Bahati Fred- District Education Officer, Nabaasa Gordon- Municipal Education Officer,
Nabasa Rushegyera Abias-Former Head Teacher of Ntungamo Primary School,
Komuhangi Allen-Head Teacher of Ruhoko Primary School, Munuunura Bernards, Head teacher of Maato Primary School, and Ntereire Geoffrey-Head Teacher of Kikoni SDA Primary School.
The accused being employed by Ntungamo District Local Government and government of Uganda in different government schools in Ntungamo District had been inflating the number of pupils in their schools in order to get more capitation grants from the government.
Investigations revealed that the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development was paying capitation grants for 124,817 pupils in 249 Universal Primary Education (UPE) schools in Ntungamo District for FY 2023/2024, according to Ministry of Education records. However, it was revealed that the district has only about 80,000 pupils, as opposed to the 121,094 pupils reported by the Ministry. This discrepancy suggested there are over 40,000 “ghost” pupils for whom the government is paying capitation grants, resulting in a financial loss of approximately UGX 1 billion.
SHACU noted that investigation attributed this loss to several factors: Inflated Pupil numbers the head teachers reported to the District Education Department, hoping to receive more capitation grants, and negligence by the District Education Department which failed to verify the pupil numbers submitted by the UPE Head teachers before forwarding them to the Ministry of Education.
“This ultimately led to the Ministry of Finance receiving incorrect data, which was used for financial releases.” A statement released today reads in part.
Findings also indicated that UPE Head teachers did not follow the proper guidelines for spending Capitation and Education grants. Most Head teachers lacked any accountabilities for the funds, and the District Education Department failed to demand accountability before facilitating subsequent financial releases.
In addition, two teachers; Tunanukye Marsaile and Nkumiriza Molly will also be arraigned before the Ntungamo Chief Magistrates Court on charges of conspiracy to defeat justice after they interfered with the execution of an investigation to the enrolment of pupils in primary section at Nyakasi Primary School by transferring nursery pupils to primary one.